2 KINGS LESSON 1
We will begin this lesson in II Kings 1:1 "Then Moab rebelled
against Israel after the death of Ahab."
Ahab had been a powerful, though evil, king. He had kept the
subjection of Moab going during his reign. Many believe that Moab had
payed tribute for at least 40 years. At the death of Ahab, they saw
their opportunity to get free, and took it.
II Kings 1:2 "And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his
upper chamber that [was] in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent
messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub the god of
Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease."
Ahaziah had followed his father Ahab to the throne. This means
that Ahaziah had fallen from the second floor, and injured himself
severly. He was, possibly, so broken up, that he was near death. Ahab
and Jezebel were worshippers of Baal. It is logical that their son
would be, too. This Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, was a false diety.
Ahaziah had placed his faith in a nothing. This false god could not
help him.
II Kings 1:3 "But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the
Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria,
and say unto them, [Is it] not because [there is] not a God in Israel,
[that] ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron?"
We see, from this, that Elijah was still prophet for the LORD in
the land. The LORD sent Elijah to stop him from inquiring of the false
god. This is a message, which speaks truth. They had turned their
backs on the One True God, to worship Baal. They were not seeking God,
but Baal.
II Kings 1:4 "Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not
come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely
die. And Elijah departed."
Elijah gave the messengers the message the LORD had sent him
with, and departed. He did not want to be hunted down and killed.
Ahaziah would die for his worship of the evil false gods. This was not
what he wanted to hear, but was the truth.
II Kings 1:5 "And when the messengers turned back unto him, he
said unto them, Why are ye now turned back?"
Ahaziah knew that the messengers had not been gone long enough to
receive a message from the false god. He wants them to explain why,
they are back so soon.
II Kings 1:6 "And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet
us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and
say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, [Is it] not because [there is] not
a God in Israel, [that] thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god
of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which
thou art gone up, but shalt surely die."
They gave the message to him the very way that Elijah had told
them to. They did not tell him, however, that the message had been
given them by Elijah.
II Kings 1:7 "And he said unto them, What manner of man [was he]
which came up to meet you, and told you these words?" II Kings 1:8
"And they answered him, [He was] an hairy man, and girt with a girdle
of leather about his loins. And he said, It [is] Elijah the Tishbite."
It is highly unlikely that they had not known Elijah and his
reputation. They were, probably, afraid to tell him who the prophet
was. They were afraid for their own lives. Notice, how a true prophet
is dressed. Matthew 3:4 "And the same John had his raiment of camel's
hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts
and wild honey."
II Kings 1:9 "Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with
his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an
hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come
down."
Ahaziah had, probably, heard how Elijah called down fire from
heaven, and then killed 450 prophets of Baal. He would take no chances
with him not coming. He sent 50 of his best men to bring him back. He
was sitting on the top of a hill, when they found him. They call him
"man of God".
II Kings 1:10 "And Elijah answered and said to the captain of
fifty, If I [be] a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven,
and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven,
and consumed him and his fifty."
There is a reference to this very thing in the following
Scripture in the New Testament. Luke 9:54 "And when his disciples
James and John saw [this], they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command
fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?"
Elijah had tremendous power to call down fire. He could have been
known as the prophet of fire. He had no sooner said it, than the fifty
were consumed of the fire.
II Kings 1:11 "Again also he sent unto him another captain of
fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God,
thus hath the king said, Come down quickly." II Kings 1:12 "And Elijah
answered and said unto them, If I [be] a man of God, let fire come
down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God
came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty."
The very same thing happened to the captain and his fifty of the
second group that happened to the first group. Notice, the statement,
"if I be a man of God". It is as if he is saying, you say I am, let's
see if I am.
II Kings 1:13 "And he sent again a captain of the third fifty
with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and
fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him,
O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty
thy servants, be precious in thy sight."
News had travelled back about what had happened to the first two
groups. This third captain came, because his king sent him. He humbled
himself before Elijah, recognizing Elijah and Elijah's God. He wanted
to live, but he had to carry out the message of the king. He begs for
his life, and the life of his men.
II Kings 1:14 "Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and
burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties:
therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight."
He makes Elijah aware that he knows of the other groups, who had
come to get him.
II Kings 1:15 "And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go
down with him: be not afraid of him. And he arose, and went down with
him unto the king."
This is a re-assurance from the LORD, that He would be with
Elijah. The appearance of the angel is bringing the message to Elijah,
to have no fear of what might happen to him. Elijah obeyed the message
sent to him by the angel of the LORD.
II Kings 1:16 "And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD,
Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the
god of Ekron, [is it] not because [there is] no God in Israel to
inquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed
on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die."
This implies, that he would have been saved, if he had sent to
Elijah in the first place, rather than to the false god.
II Kings 1:17 "So he died according to the word of the LORD
which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the
second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because
he had no son." II Kings 1:18 "Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah
which he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of
the kings of Israel?"
He was condemned for his worship of false gods, and died, just as
the LORD had said through Elijah. Some believe Jehoram was the brother
of Ahaziah. Jehoram and Joram are the same person. "Jehoram" means
whom Jehovah exalts. We can see that Ahab had high hopes for this son,
as well, by the name he gave him. Ahaziah did not even finish his
second year of reign. Jehoram began, before the second year was up.
This is a bit confusing speaking of Jehoram as the son of Jehoshaphat.
We will not belabor that here. The main thing we must know, is that he
was evil, and the last of the family of Ahab to reign. The historical
book is mentioned, again.
2 Kings 1 Questions
1. Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of _________.
2. How long had Moab paid tribute to Israel?
3. What accident did Ahaziah have?
4. Where did he send messengers?
5. What did he send them for?
6. Who was the god of Ekron?
7. How did Elijah know to go and meet them on the road?
8. What did Elijah say to the messengers?
9. What message did Elijah tell them to give their king?
10. Why would Ahaziah have to die?
11. What did the king ask the messengers, when they arrived?
12. What did the messengers call Elijah?
13. What was Elijah wearing?
14. The minute the king heard what the man was wearing, he said it was
__________.
15. Quote Matthew chapter 3 verse 4.
16. Who did the king send to get Elijah?
17. What happened to them?
18. Who did he next send?
19. What happened to them?
20. What did the third captain do differently?
21. What was he really doing, when he knelt and said what he did?
22. Why did Elijah go with him to see the king?
23. What does verse 16 imply?
24. Who took his place as king, when he died?
25. What does "Jehoram" mean?
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